Developers Scale Back Shopping Center

YORK — Developers of The Marquis shopping center have scaled back plans for a second phase after York County officials said initial plans would result in too much traffic.

Premier Properties has applied for a special-use permit for 200,000 square feet of retail space, down from 550,000 square feet in an earlier application.

The three buildings would be south of the developer's first phase, which includes a Target, JC Penney, Kohl's, Best Buy and Dick's Sporting Goods.

The shopping center is on Route 199 next to Water Country USA.

Plans for the second phase filed with York County by the Indianapolis-based developer show three stores, the largest being 148,000 square feet with a gas station. That building may become a Costco, although it's identified in documents as a "freestanding discount store."

Dropped from earlier plans are a 700-seat amphitheater and nine other buildings.

Premier Properties lowered the amount of retail space in its second phase after state and county officials raised concerns about the volume of traffic the shopping center would generate and the proposed access.

In an Aug. 3 report to the county, a consultant for The Marquis said the 200,000 square feet of retail will not adversely affect traffic at the proposed intersection on Route 199 -- to include a traffic signal -- that will be built to get into the shopping center. The additional retail space "will not generate traffic volumes detrimental to the operations of the intersection," according to the report by Kimley-Horn and Associates.

The request for a special-use permit is scheduled to be heard by the York County Planning Commission on Sept. 12.